Published: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 3:55 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 17, 2013 at 12:27 p.m.

A popular tax-supported program that helped pay for museums, parks, ballfields and more in Volusia County since 2002 has often stirred up grumbles rather than kudos over the past couple of years.

Facts

A look at the ECHO fund:

Total revenues between 2002-2013: $66.4 million

Total committed to projects: $58.3 million

Payments to CRAs: $ 2.5 million

Reserves: $100,000

Available funds: $5.5 million

Volusia ECHO listening sessions

Volusia County staff and County Council members will conduct five community listening sessions for the public to discuss the future of the Volusia ECHO program. These are the scheduled dates and times:

For more information, contact ECHO Coordinator Bobbie King at bgking@volusia.org or 386-736-5953, or visit volusia.org/echo.

Now, as it prepares to chart a course forward, the County Council has asked for "listening sessions" with the public and a little more transparency.

Concerns from some council members and taxpayers about the Volusia ECHO program — for environmental, cultural, heritage and outdoor projects — have ranged from bookkeeping questions to hurt feelings over how big a role a citizens advisory panel should play in deciding how the money is spent. Some say the county has taken too much money from the grant program for its own projects.

With roughly seven years remaining in the 20-year program voters approved in 2000, the council has taken several steps to address these questions.

The grant cycle that was supposed to take place this year has been delayed while the council takes a closer look at the program, which is expected to generate nearly $5 million in taxes this year. The money comes from a 20-cent tax on every $1,000 of property value.

On Thursday, the council will set the agenda for a series of listening sessions it plans around the county in May to give the public a chance to say how — if at all — it would like to see the money spent.

In recent weeks council members also have asked the staff to provide more in-depth information on ECHO spending and to make that information available on the county's ECHO website.

This is the second time in three years the county has paused to regroup on Volusia ECHO.

Newly elected Councilwoman Deb Denys is among those with concerns this time around, asking the county staff to make sure all documents being provided to the council and the public are the same, with a full and clear explanation of where the money is going.

"We need to have the same numbers," Denys said. "The same numbers that are presented to the council should be presented to the public. I just want the same figures everywhere."

This comes after questions from members of the public who were trying to analyze and balance the numbers based on information available on the county's website prior to the council's April 9 ECHO workshop.

By the end of this year, the program will have raised roughly $63.5 million, not including the tax money paid back to the various community redevelopment tax districts.

Since the beginning, about $58 million has been allocated to more than 120 projects, either through grants or direct appropriations by the county. The program is expected to raise another $30 million over the next seven years, with $5.5 million available to spend this year.

In documents provided since the workshop and posted online, county officials laid out how all the money is accounted for. But they cautioned the accounts are in a constant state of flux, as grant recipients claim their reimbursements and new money flows in as county residents pay their taxes.

"The ECHO program includes approved projects that are completed in stages," said county spokesman Dave Byron, "so actual expenditures change as work progresses."

Councilwoman Pat Northey said last week she didn't share the concerns raised about the accounting, confident in the county staff's ability to fully explain the program's balance sheet.

However, Northey added the county needs to make sure the accounting is balanced and available on the county's website "so the voters that trusted us with that money will feel good about it."

Even after the recent improvements, Northey said the county's website could be more user-friendly to allow the public to easily look at the accounting and see what their tax dollars developed.

County officials say the confusion over the available money in the program most likely arose because the numbers provided to the council for the April 9 workshop were the latest revised numbers, while the numbers on the website were outdated, but accurate when they originally posted.

County officials said the ECHO pages are being reviewed to make sure the information is "accurate, up to date and easy to navigate."

Byron and County Manager Jim Dinneen bristle when asked about the transparency concerns raised by some.

"The staff works hard to have open conversation with the County Council and the citizens we serve," Byron said. "Any thought to the contrary is misguided."

County Chair Jason Davis said in addition to concerns he has heard about transparency, he's also had a lot of questions about ECHO spending, which prompted him to seek more information and clarification from staff.

One issue that raised eyebrows for some of the newer council members and others recently was the large amount of allocated but unspent grant money.

As of April 22, the county had $7.4 million allocated but not distributed for 23 projects, dating as far back as 2007.

County officials — and others — said the grant awards are just waiting on project completion. The rules are stringent and grant applicants are required to prove the money has been spent and the project completed before the county writes a check. Daytona Beach officials, for example, said the city is still putting together the documentation of costs for its $1.2 million in grants for the Midtown Cultural and Educational Center. The money was awarded in two grants in 2009 and 2010.

Several projects have taken much longer than originally expected. For example, the county was awarded a $442,188 grant for its Beck Ranch Park in Osteen in 2007. But, when design and construction started, Byron said the county learned it would have to conduct an environmental cleanup.

The land had once been the site of an arsenic-dipping vat, a narrow tub that ranchers would fill with an arsenic mixture, then walk cows through it to treat them for pests. When "unsafe arsenic levels" were found in the soil, the state required the county to remove the soil and install monitoring wells. Byron said the state has since approved the project, a new bid has been awarded and the new design is expected to go to the council in the "near future."

As for several remaining county projects, Byron said capital projects are completed in stages, based on complexity and "any unexpected delays that occur along the way."

Among the issues expected to come up during the listening sessions are the program's original purpose, the role of the citizens advisory committee and the caliber of project requests.

Over time, the program's purpose has been debated, with some, for example, questioning the county's use of ECHO money to acquire land for off-beach parking. But the county's original resolution specifically mentioned the "establishment of ocean front parks and provision of off-beach parking."

The council angered some ECHO supporters by voting in 2011 to use half the tax proceeds during the remainder of the program to acquire land for parking and access to waterfronts on the ocean and the Halifax, Indian and St. Johns Rivers.

The county hoped to take advantage of bargain real estate prices; however, only two such properties have been purchased, leaving some council members considering abandoning the effort.

The role of the citizens advisory committee the county appoints to review grant projects also has been questioned, with some arguing the county should not make direct appropriations of ECHO money without a vote of the citizens committee.

Denys and Davis, both elected last fall, said they're not sure where they'd like to see the ECHO program go in the future. Both want to hear from the public first.

"There could be concerns or ideas we haven't addressed yet," Denys said.

Davis plans to attend every session "to listen to ideas on what everybody else feels ECHO is supposed to be doing."

"Do I feel that some of the money spent was right? No," Davis said. "But that was before I got there.

"We don't have to spend the money," he said. "We could leave the money stand . . . until we come up with a viable project."

<p>A popular tax-supported program that helped pay for museums, parks, ballfields and more in Volusia County since 2002 has often stirred up grumbles rather than kudos over the past couple of years. </p><p>Now, as it prepares to chart a course forward, the County Council has asked for "listening sessions" with the public and a little more transparency. </p><p>Concerns from some council members and taxpayers about the Volusia ECHO program &mdash; for environmental, cultural, heritage and outdoor projects &mdash; have ranged from bookkeeping questions to hurt feelings over how big a role a citizens advisory panel should play in deciding how the money is spent. Some say the county has taken too much money from the grant program for its own projects. </p><p>With roughly seven years remaining in the 20-year program voters approved in 2000, the council has taken several steps to address these questions. </p><p>The grant cycle that was supposed to take place this year has been delayed while the council takes a closer look at the program, which is expected to generate nearly $5 million in taxes this year. The money comes from a 20-cent tax on every $1,000 of property value. </p><p>On Thursday, the council will set the agenda for a series of listening sessions it plans around the county in May to give the public a chance to say how &mdash; if at all &mdash; it would like to see the money spent. </p><p>In recent weeks council members also have asked the staff to provide more in-depth information on ECHO spending and to make that information available on the county's ECHO website. </p><p>This is the second time in three years the county has paused to regroup on Volusia ECHO. </p><p>Newly elected Councilwoman Deb Denys is among those with concerns this time around, asking the county staff to make sure all documents being provided to the council and the public are the same, with a full and clear explanation of where the money is going. </p><p>"We need to have the same numbers," Denys said. "The same numbers that are presented to the council should be presented to the public. I just want the same figures everywhere." </p><p>This comes after questions from members of the public who were trying to analyze and balance the numbers based on information available on the county's website prior to the council's April 9 ECHO workshop. </p><p>By the end of this year, the program will have raised roughly $63.5 million, not including the tax money paid back to the various community redevelopment tax districts. </p><p>Since the beginning, about $58 million has been allocated to more than 120 projects, either through grants or direct appropriations by the county. The program is expected to raise another $30 million over the next seven years, with $5.5 million available to spend this year. </p><p>In documents provided since the workshop and posted online, county officials laid out how all the money is accounted for. But they cautioned the accounts are in a constant state of flux, as grant recipients claim their reimbursements and new money flows in as county residents pay their taxes. </p><p>"The ECHO program includes approved projects that are completed in stages," said county spokesman Dave Byron, "so actual expenditures change as work progresses." </p><p>Councilwoman Pat Northey said last week she didn't share the concerns raised about the accounting, confident in the county staff's ability to fully explain the program's balance sheet. </p><p>However, Northey added the county needs to make sure the accounting is balanced and available on the county's website "so the voters that trusted us with that money will feel good about it." </p><p>Even after the recent improvements, Northey said the county's website could be more user-friendly to allow the public to easily look at the accounting and see what their tax dollars developed. </p><p>County officials say the confusion over the available money in the program most likely arose because the numbers provided to the council for the April 9 workshop were the latest revised numbers, while the numbers on the website were outdated, but accurate when they originally posted. </p><p>County officials said the ECHO pages are being reviewed to make sure the information is "accurate, up to date and easy to navigate." </p><p>Byron and County Manager Jim Dinneen bristle when asked about the transparency concerns raised by some. </p><p>"The staff works hard to have open conversation with the County Council and the citizens we serve," Byron said. "Any thought to the contrary is misguided." </p><p>County Chair Jason Davis said in addition to concerns he has heard about transparency, he's also had a lot of questions about ECHO spending, which prompted him to seek more information and clarification from staff. </p><p>One issue that raised eyebrows for some of the newer council members and others recently was the large amount of allocated but unspent grant money. </p><p>As of April 22, the county had $7.4 million allocated but not distributed for 23 projects, dating as far back as 2007. </p><p>County officials &mdash; and others &mdash; said the grant awards are just waiting on project completion. The rules are stringent and grant applicants are required to prove the money has been spent and the project completed before the county writes a check. Daytona Beach officials, for example, said the city is still putting together the documentation of costs for its $1.2 million in grants for the Midtown Cultural and Educational Center. The money was awarded in two grants in 2009 and 2010. </p><p>Several projects have taken much longer than originally expected. For example, the county was awarded a $442,188 grant for its Beck Ranch Park in Osteen in 2007. But, when design and construction started, Byron said the county learned it would have to conduct an environmental cleanup. </p><p>The land had once been the site of an arsenic-dipping vat, a narrow tub that ranchers would fill with an arsenic mixture, then walk cows through it to treat them for pests. When "unsafe arsenic levels" were found in the soil, the state required the county to remove the soil and install monitoring wells. Byron said the state has since approved the project, a new bid has been awarded and the new design is expected to go to the council in the "near future." </p><p>As for several remaining county projects, Byron said capital projects are completed in stages, based on complexity and "any unexpected delays that occur along the way." </p><p>Among the issues expected to come up during the listening sessions are the program's original purpose, the role of the citizens advisory committee and the caliber of project requests. </p><p>Over time, the program's purpose has been debated, with some, for example, questioning the county's use of ECHO money to acquire land for off-beach parking. But the county's original resolution specifically mentioned the "establishment of ocean front parks and provision of off-beach parking." </p><p>The council angered some ECHO supporters by voting in 2011 to use half the tax proceeds during the remainder of the program to acquire land for parking and access to waterfronts on the ocean and the Halifax, Indian and St. Johns Rivers. </p><p>The county hoped to take advantage of bargain real estate prices; however, only two such properties have been purchased, leaving some council members considering abandoning the effort. </p><p>The role of the citizens advisory committee the county appoints to review grant projects also has been questioned, with some arguing the county should not make direct appropriations of ECHO money without a vote of the citizens committee. </p><p>Denys and Davis, both elected last fall, said they're not sure where they'd like to see the ECHO program go in the future. Both want to hear from the public first. </p><p>"There could be concerns or ideas we haven't addressed yet," Denys said. </p><p>Davis plans to attend every session "to listen to ideas on what everybody else feels ECHO is supposed to be doing." </p><p>"Do I feel that some of the money spent was right? No," Davis said. "But that was before I got there. </p><p>"We don't have to spend the money," he said. "We could leave the money stand . . . until we come up with a viable project."</p>